Traditionally, Aeta society is not highly organized. The Aeta don't have a complex political system. Their society is an egalitarian one and much emphasis is placed on the group with little emphasis on the self. Sharing is very important in Aeta society, a society emphasizing cooperation and not competiton. Furthermore, elders are generally regarded with respect and the eldest of a group is usually the leader. Aeta leaders, however, do not traditionally hold much power and usually give advice rather than demands. Aeta tend to live in small groups, usually of up to ten families who hold a common ancestor. Life is focused on the nuclear family, in which both parents share relatively equal rights. Marriages can be either arranged or arranged, however, regardless a bride price or "bandi," in the form of money or food, is always mandatory. It should be noted that while Aeta society does not typically have a regular political system they have been mandated by the low-land Filipinos to have a captain to facilitate with communications to the outside world.
Political Organization
Traditionally, Aeta society is not highly organized. The Aeta don't have a complex political system. Their society is an egalitarian one and much emphasis is placed on the group with little emphasis on the self. Sharing is very important in Aeta society, a society emphasizing cooperation and not competiton. Furthermore, elders are generally regarded with respect and the eldest of a group is usually the leader. Aeta leaders, however, do not traditionally hold much power and usually give advice rather than demands. Aeta tend to live in small groups, usually of up to ten families who hold a common ancestor. Life is focused on the nuclear family, in which both parents share relatively equal rights. Marriages can be either arranged or arranged, however, regardless a bride price or "bandi," in the form of money or food, is always mandatory. It should be noted that while Aeta society does not typically have a regular political system they have been mandated by the low-land Filipinos to have a captain to facilitate with communications to the outside world.